I have two jobs, one as an interpreter. I go, do my job, leave, and usually don't think about it. However, last week was "vicarious trauma week". Two situations, back to back, were particularly tragic. I took a break, walked down the hall to the ladies room and locked myself in a stall. I thought I might cry. Hmmm, that didn't happen until after the assignment was over and I was driving home.

Anyway…I'm in the bathroom looking at myself in the mirror--thinking.

I tend to be a calm person on the inside and the outside (emphasis on "tend"). A person watching me would not generally think I am stressed. Hey, that's even what I thought!--Wrongo!

As I thought about–not only this job, but my other job, my life in general–I told that girl in the mirror, "You are under a lot of stress…and have been for a long time!"

So, what am I going to do about it?

As I've thought about it the past few day, I thought we could help one another. I'll share things that help me handle stress and it would be great if you would share too.

Here goes:

* Tears. I found shedding some tears on my drive home helped.

* Do thing(s) you enjoy. This year I decided not to plant flowers. I told my hubby and he was surprised. My thinking behind that decision: save me time that I could spend on being busy (cause I have so much to do) and also save some money (as we have a few extra bills).

So this weekend our six year old grandson stayed with us. We ended up at Lowes as my hubby wanted to check out something. Once there, I couldn't resist the temptation. My grandson and I trotted over to the garden shop and proceeded to pick out flowers.

Last night when it was almost dark, in the "warm of the night" (not cool by any stretch of the imagination), he and I had so much fun planting all those flowers in four large pots. He had a blast with the hose.

Now this morning I am sitting on the front porch enjoying the flowers and also God's creation. I hear birds singing and I see them flying around. A cardinal keeps coming up the steps to the porch. It is so peaceful and I am so relaxed. Wow, a blue jay has shown up on the steps.

So it hit me--this summer while I'm watering the flowers, picking off dead petals, etc, etc, it will not steal my time, it will help make the rest of the time I "spend" more "profitable"…among other things.

gardening is really good for me as well.being with the family that understands the issues I have (hubby & 4 kids & 1 grandson!!)playing outside with my dogs (or puppies, as I like to call them)quilting or sewingeven just sitting outside on our porch area for a few minutes in the sun.It's been said:LD patients can be as ill as people w/ congest. heart failure & in as much pain as post-op patients.

And your man reads to you in bed. WOW!!! Reduces stress, hmmmm, sounds good. I'll have to hand mine, the next book I'm reading, and ask him to read me a few pages before night night. Sounds relaxing to me. SMILE.

betterhealth, Awww a good back rub...I'm ready for my massage gal. It's been too long. But don't know when I'll be able to do that.

Music, Thanks for reminding me. I couldn't believe it, I have a keyboard and I love to play, but I was shocked because I couldn't remember the last time I played it. When I got home from church today, I enjoyed playing it very much (for my God only! I play by ear and wouldn't want to stress anyone out). In the busyness of my schedule I had "forgotten" it was sitting right in the sunroom waiting for me.

Schedule, Oh, yeah, I need to cross off those none essentials too. God help me!

Prayer/Meditation, I have to admit that it is by my God's great love and grace that I have made it this far...and will "finish the race". Yet...

Yet...I realized...

My name is daisyrlb and I am a recovering stressoholic. I cannot continue on this path of "burning the candle at both ends" and not expect consequences because God has set up certain principles that our bodies need to follow.

I am sure that stress played a part (probably a bigger part than I would want to admit) in this third bout with Lyme Disease that I am now facing.

This is a great thread! Oh yeah, stress plays a huge role in this disease but I think everyone knows that already, duh!

What works for me is aerobic exercising, I have vhs tapes and dvd's of Leslie Sansone's "Walk Away The Pounds" and after doing the 3 mile tape, I feel great (after I catch my breath!)..

But I have NOT been exercising of late because I'm too tired from not sleeping! I really need to force myself to start doing my exercise again.

Nature calms me.. I planted my Veggie Garden and just going out and watching my garden every day (weeding too) is so nice.. I also planted flowers and I love looking at them. Where I live there are many beaches but the problem is I don't like going alone. When I do go, I can stare at the waves forever.. That is a huge stress buster for me as well as going fishing on a boat.. Anything to do with water calms me.. But once again, I have no one to go with me!

Let's see, what else? Okay, after I am done with my work I put on my favorite TV channel (Turner Classic Movies) and I'm either knitting or crocheting.

Oh golly, I hate to sound like I am repeating myself but I also feel great after taking a detox bath!

Denise

It's all about the Immune System mixed with a large dose of Positive Thinking and Detoxing Daily!

Something else I thought of that helps - "Stop and smell the daisies"*

I realized this morning that I have been so busy in GETTER-DONE-MODE that I have not been "smelling the daisies" along the way. That's sad or stress or both. I'm glad that is changing with God's help. Gods' Help that is Step Two of the Twelve Step Program for Recovering Stressoholics. (I googled the book online but couldn't find it…LOL)

Anyway…

+ In the kitchen right above the sink is a window. I don't remember the last time I looked out the window and took in the view--that is, until this morning (that's sad, or stress, or both). So...

I was busy washing the oatmeal out of my hubby's pot, and instead of focusing on the sink the whole time as usual, I just happened to look out the window. There were the beautiful flowers my grandson and I planted over the weekend in my flower pot…plus the rest of God's creation right there staring me in the face. Yup, I stopped right then and there and "smelled the daisies" and it will become a part of my routine (sign of a recovering stressoholic). SMILE

+ I was taking a shower hurrying, get in and get out, like I've been doing the past few months, or year, or w h a t e v e r and I realized how good the shower spray felt on my back. I stayed in the shower longer this morning just "smelling the daisies" (sign of a recovering stressoholic). SMILE

+ Dry skin brushing is new to me; I've only been doing it the past few months…in GETTER-DONE-MODE. But more recently, I got the hang of it and realized how good it feels. Somewhere (maybe on another thread) I said something like, "Now I know how a dog feels when he gets his back scratched!" Oh, yeah!! that is "smelling the daisies" (sign of a recovering stressoholic). The manufacturer needs to add a warning label, "May be addictive." LOL

Look out the window, enjoy the view, never know what will happen next to put a smile on your face. Smiles relieve stress.

So this morning I was standing at the kitchen window just drinking a glass of water and looking at the flowers outside. A hummingbird flew right up to the window and looked in, just for a brief few seconds, then it flew away.

Tonight I was re-reading this thread…and noticed my comments to Denise were missing. I found them….in the wrong place….(I am re-reading Dr J's book, the info about detoxing–I need to add ALL the detox "stuff" ASAP!)

****Denise, thank you for your thoughtful comments. I appreciate each one.

It was so great to go outside and water my flowers today. What a great way to start the day. It really didn't take that long and yet it was so worth it. Relaxing, enjoying God's creation–sun, birds, critters, etc. It's like you shared, "Nature calms me." Veggie Garden--lucky you-nothing like fresh veggies out of your own garden. Plus enjoying the fruits of your own labor.

I've not started the aerobic exercise. I know I need to...soon I will. I do stretch and isometric, but I know that is totally different. I need to get my heart beating faster and those sweat glands working harder. You share, "I feel great (after I catch my breath!)" That's what I will be saying, too. LOL

Sorry you've been so tired...Sent a prayer up for you!

Me, too, I really enjoy the beach, probably better than any other place on earth. Waves is awesome!!! My hubby and I are landlocked (he was born and raised in Southern California and me in Florida). You should see our place though. We have a large picture of a beautiful ocean scene hanging above our couch and that's not the only one, there are others. I have lost count of all the lighthouses, boats, life rings, seagulls and pelicans, sea shells…the list is endless. (I tell family and friends that we do not need any more!) No matter where you look, you will see something(s) nautical.

What?! You have no one to go with you? Girl, you gotta get out more or something! If I lived near you at the beach, you wouldn't have to drag me to join you. LOL!

Several years ago my hubby and I were in Florida visiting friends. We had been to the ocean, of course, but I wanted to see the sunrise over the ocean. No one else was interested in getting up THAT early. So on our last day I drove to the ocean myself. I stayed in the car, until lots of people showed up. When I felt the coast was clearly safe (get it? "coast was clear-ly" LOL) I walked down the sand and just stared at the waves and listened to the sounds...awesome!!! Then the beautiful "orange ball" rose…it was great, forever etched in my mind. OK, that's enough…I could go on and on about that…

Razzle, Glad the Magnesium helps you. I was having leg cramps a while back and since starting Magnesium they've stopped. Oh, interesting, I never thought about the effect Magnesium could have emotionally. Sorry you're not able to do the aerobic exercise. Seems you really enjoyed singing! Sure hope you are still singing, even though it's not the same as being in a choir. Keep your voice in tune for the day that you are in a choir again!!!

Now that I've realized and fessed up that I had stopped doing the FUN things I enJOYed, well, obviously not stopped all the FUN things I enJOYed–just most of them–LOL…

OK, back on track…I've gone and figured out that enJOYment and endorFUN fix go hand in hand!

There is a supernatural JOY that God gives people and I've experienced that. At the same time, after reading what you all have shared on this thread, I've come to realize that there is another kind of JOY. (I personally believe this is from God, too.) That is the JOY that comes from enJOYment–doing the things one enJOYs. I know, I see it coming, go ahead and say it to me, "Well Duh!"

Now that I am beginning to do those things again--the JOY level has gone up in my life. With more JOY comes more energy. I'm lovin' it! (I was already happy, my happy has been kicked up quite a few notches!!)

So, what did I do for enJOYment today to relieve stress?

After church and lunch, we THEN WENT TO LOWES which was in the same parking lot as the restaurant. I headed straight for the garden shop. Yes, I did, I bought more flowers!!! I have already planted them. I've watered all my plants tonight, and am getting so much enJOYment from them. I'm so glad I didn't go with my first thoughts (as I explained in a previous post). In fact, now I need to do a little rearranging of the furniture in the sunroom so that I have a straight view of my flowers on the back patio. LOL!

I still have my To Do List (gotta have that!). But now I have another list, it's my enJOYment To Do List…I never want to forget again.

I think I'm addicted to endorFUNs…OK, I admit I am addicted to endorFUNs. LOL!

P.S.: Had a thought about gardening and doing other things for enJOYment.

My Grandma always had a garden. She died when she was 95.

My Dad has a flower and a veggie garden, he's 81. Last week I talked to him, he was building a gazebo in his backyard. He and his wife celebrate their third wedding anniversary in August.

My Uncle, more like a brother, he's 60. (Grandpa and Grandma's surprise baby). Anyway…about SIX YEARS AGO he started running (not jogging). He's been in numerous marathons. Then he started biking (like hundreds of miles, up and down mountains and/or desert!). He didn't stop there. He added swimming. Now he is an Ironman Triathlete (Wiki: A series of long-distance races consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26 mile run, raced in that order and without a break.) He's always enJOYed life, but he just started this enJOYable fad when he was 54, now he's 60!

I thought it was the genes. Now I'm wondering how much the enJOYment factor plays into it.

OK, so what are you doing for enJOYment and to get an endorFUN fix and relieve stress???

Do you spend much time staring at a monitor like I do? Even reading the Lyme Forums can have one staring at the computer for hours. Sitting in one position for any length of time and staring at a computer or laptop is stressful to the body...duh, everyone knows that but it's worth remembering. So what helps?

BODY PART. Problems. Simple things to do to help relieve the stress*

EYES. Computer Eye Strain. More than 50 percent of computer users experience eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision. At least every hour look away from the computer for one to two minutes as you focus eyes far and then near, far and near. Let eyes fluidly look around the room and scan the edges of objects (clocks, doors, desks).

NECK. Neck can become sore and stiff after holding it in one position too long. Slowly turn neck left, then turn neck right. Do this several times. Rotate head front, right, back and left. Repeat several times.

SHOULDERS and SHOULDER BLADES. Become stiff, hurt. Circle shoulders back and round and round. Then circle shoulders forwards and round and round. Repeat several times.

BACK. Lower back pain (do a google search for proper sitting posture). For every one hour, ten minutes should be spent walking and moving around, stretching a little, just getting some movement going.

I imagine if a person has Lyme Disease, it's even more important to do simple stress exercises.

I so enjoyed all of the posts. I esp admire the gardeners it takes so much patience, I have never had the patience to try.when stressed"I journal it all downI pray for others and then add my own (prayer chain)I suffer a lot from neck and head pain if someone is kind enough to run a brush through my hair especially in the real bad spots this is so nice, touch is awesome. riding my horse if i am well enough

Yesterday, hubby and I were in Wal-Mart. I made my way over to the Garden Shop. Yup, I bought more flowers plus ornamental grass. Didn't plant them in a pot. Now I am planting in the yard, O boy, I really got the "garden fever"!

Got a real work out, too, pounding the hard Oklahoma ground with my hoe and digging with my shovel. Sweat up a storm. It felt good and relaxing.

Didn't do my exercises last night as I figured I got enough.

Yup, folks, get out and do the things you enjoy. I notice I am really de-stressed and I feel so good!